Nick's Version of Creating an Effective Study Schedule

Nick’s Version of Creating an Effective Study Schedule

Posted by nick in May 16th, 2008

As a second timer CPA reviewee myself, I have proven the importance of creating a study schedule that I should religiously follow. Not only it directs me to a particular goal, but also, it showed me how important and limited time is for my CPA review. Believe it or not, 6 months could be more than enough or frustratingly inadequate, depending on how you make and adjust your schedules, and depending how disciplined you are and how productive every minute and every second of your review is.

Before the start of my first review classes while I was still an undergrad, I’ve read a book entitle “The Making of a CPA” authored by Mr. Valencia (sorry but I can’t remember his First Name). It was really very inspirational and motivational, even I can’t believe how motivated I become upon reading that book. One of the things I’ve learned from that book is how to make an effective study schedule, how to maximize every minute I have in that limited 6-month time frame. I guess that would be worth to share to all fellow CPA aspirants like me.

How to Create An Effective Study Schedule

Determine all of your basic activities that you can’t live without. That includes eating, taking a bath, sleeping, transportation (if there is), etc…
Give a particular time frame for each specific activity. It would be better to take an aggregate of the number of hours to start and complete each activity in a given day. For instance, you give 2 and a half hours in eating, that would include your breakfast, lunch, dinner and any meals in between.
Now, allocate each activity within the 24-hour time frame. I have prepared my weekday study schedule below, you may refer to that.

Time	Activities
5:00 – 5:30 am	Waking hour routine and exercise/stretching
5:30 – 9:00 am	Self Study
9:00 – 10:00 am	Eating, Bathing, and other necessities
10:00 – 1:00 pm	Transportation, From Bulacan to Manila, including lunch
1:00 – 5:00 pm	Formal Review Classes at CPAR
5:00 – 8:00 pm	Transportation, From Manila to Bulacan
8:00 – 9:00 pm	Dinner and rest
9:00 – 11:00 pm	Self Study
11:00 pm	Sleeping time

The most important thing in making a schedule is that you know it is realistic. Never make schedules that’s impossibly for you to follow. Also, schedules are bound to be adjusted, not for your own comfort, but for making it realistically tighter and tighter. Before the start of implementing the schedule I’ve stated above, I made a micro schedule in connection to that particular schedule that I’m currently following today, and will be continuously followed until the last day of my vacation. This will help me adjust my sleeping habits, my activities and more, making it easier and realistic for me to follow the schedule I have created above.

Reminder! Never deprive yourself with sleep. That was the greatest mistake I’ve made during my first review. Depriving yourself with enough sleep will not help, that’s in my case. Your immune system could break down, making you sick, which is really a waste of time! I was sick for 3 months during my first review, giving me no option but to stop attending my review classes and concentrate on my undergrad subjects. I hope you don’t commit mistakes the way that I do, so please, have enough sleep!

I hope this helps..

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